New Delhi: Enforcement Directorate (ED) has issued a Provisional Attachment Order under Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002(PMLA) attaching part of the assets to the extent of Rs. 16.38 Crore of a 9 storey building with 2 basements in Mumbai of Associated Journals Limited. The attachment order was issued against the Associated Journals Limited & Moti Lal Vora, Chairman-Cum-Managing Director of the Associated Journals Limited.
ED initiated investigation under the provisions of PMLA on registration of FIR by State Police and CBI which discloses that Plot No. C-17 Sector 6, Panchkula was allotted to AJL in the year 1982. However the same was resumed back by the Estate Officer, HUDA vide Order dated 30.10.1992 as the AJL did not comply with the conditions of allotment letter. The Resumption Order attained finality after dismissal of the Revision Petition in 1996. However, Bhupinder Singh Hooda, the then CM, Haryana/Chairman HUDA, blatantly by misusing his official position dishonestly allotted the said plot afresh in the guise of re-allotment to the AJL at original rates plus interest in violation of necessary conditions/ policy of HUDA vide order dated 28.08.2005.
Enforcement Directorate (ED) attaches under Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), assets to the extent of Rs. 16.38 crores in Bandra (East), Mumbai of Associated Journals Limited in illegal land allotment case: Enforcement Directorate pic.twitter.com/3Bm7NnFZ01
— ANI (@ANI) May 9, 2020
He also did not adhere with the legal opinion of LR, Haryana and recommendations of HUDA Officers and FCTCP. Thus, there was a wrongful loss to HUDA and wrongful gain to AJL. Bhupinder Singh Hooda further favoured the AJL by granting them three undue extensions for construction of plot from 01.05.2008 to 10.05.2012 until the AJL completed the construction in the year 2014.
Earlier, investigation under PMLA revealed that Moti Lal Vora and Bhupinder Singh Hooda were involved in the process of illegal possession of “Crime Proceeds” i.e.. The property was provisionally attached and Hon’ble Adjudicating Authority under PMLA has confirmed this attachment. It is further revealed that, the accused used this “Proceeds of Crime” i.e. Plot No. C-17, Sector-6, Panchkula for availing loans from Syndicate Bank, I. P. Estate Branch, Bahadursha Zafar Marg, New Delhi by way of pledging it for approval of Construction of building at Plot No. 02, Survey No. 341, Near Kala Nagar, EPF Office, Bandra (E), Mumbai- 400051 held in the name of Associated Journals Limited valuing at Rs. 120 crore. It is a 9 storey building having 2 basements and total built up area is 15000 Sq. mtrs. Thus, the said Asset at Mumbai, germinated out of Proceeds of Crime, has been attached to the extent of Rs. 16.38 Crore. Further investigation is going on.
